Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE  — Montrose Memorial Hospital has purchased a tool for enhancing surgical abilities. Next week, the $1.7 million robotic device will be put to use.

Currently, MMH staff and local surgeons are training on the hospital's new "da Vinci Si Surgical System." The device replicates the operative experience and control of open surgery by preserving natural eye-hand-instrument control.

"It takes what I do and makes me better," said Urologist Dr. Craig Peterson.

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The da Vinci provides surgeons with natural dexterity and range of motion far greater than they have with their human hands and allows them to view what they are doing by 10-times magnification. Because of this, it is safer, there are smaller incisions, less blood loss and faster recovery, Peterson said.

Since the system was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000 for general laparoscopic surgery, its use for surgical procedures has grown.

"They aimed for the heart and hit the prostate," Peterson said.

The system was designed first for cardiovascular surgery; however, it was found to be much more useful for other types of procedures, such as urological surgeries and, more recently, hysterectomies.

Peterson and Urologist Dr. Richard Shannon have performed nine combined open prostatectomies in the past year, a declining number. The decrease is credited to new technologies that patients opt to use, such as the da Vinci. With the new system, Peterson said local surgeons can perform these procedures. As a result, they will not lose clients to other hospitals that have this robotic capability, such as St. Mary's in Grand Junction, which has an older da Vinci system.

Commissioner Gary Ellis decided to go out of town to undergo a da Vinci surgery after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2007.

"I am thrilled personally, because of my experience, that we will now offer that surgery to patients here in Montrose. It's important not only for men, but also women ... I believe it's a good investment," Ellis said.

After doing his research on procedures available and finally, a doctor telling him he needed to do something soon, Ellis chose to have the cancer removed by a da Vinci in Denver.

"Overall, it elevates the surgery to another level," he said. "Everything they reported to be accurate was true. I was out the next day and had a really quick recovery."

The system comes with a high price tag — $1.7 million. MMH used funds from its "days of cash." Days of cash is calculated by adding the cash on hand, market securities and investments, divided by the total operations minus the depreciation expenses, divided by 365 days, according to the Hospital Association.

In the 2009 Capital Equipment Budget, a new MRI machine was budgeted at $1 million, said MMH spokesperson Leann Tobin. It was decided to purchase the da Vinci instead. By doing so, MMH's days of cash was decreased by 10.5 days, instead of the 6.2-day decrease if an MRI machine was purchased.

Though the system is costly, Peterson said it will pay for itself in less than four years because of the increased procedures possible at MMH. In 2008, 80 percent of prostatectomies were done with a da Vinci. Peterson said their research showed the benefits warranted the purchase.

Along with Peterson, gynecologist Dr. Richard Hanley has also been trained for the da Vinci. Dr. James Gilham, Dr. Richard Shannon and Dr. Michael Jay may also use the system in the near future.

The surgeons will be assisted by a proctor during their first several cases, Peterson said.

The machine is also mobile, making it easy to store and move to its needed location. Today, it will be displayed at the annual Relay For Life event at Montrose High School from 6 to 8 p.m. for the public to view.

Contact Kati O'Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com

The da Vinci Si possible procedures:

General surgery procedures that Dr. Michael Jay may perform include, laparoscopic (robotic) cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (surgery for acid reflux disease), and laparoscopic colon resection for cancer or diverticular disease. These are the more common procedures, but he may do others. 

Gynecologists Dr. Richard Hanley and Dr. James Gilham may perform laparoscopic hysterectomy, laparoscopic sacral culpopexy (repair of prolapse) and others.

Urologists Dr. Craig Peterson and Dr. Richard Shannon may perform laparoscopic prostatectomy (removal of the prostate for cancer), laparoscopic nephrectomy (removal of the kidney), partial nephrectomy, and pyeloplasty (fixing an obstructed segment).

Source: Dr. Craig Peterson

Comments

good hospital wrote on Jun 26, 2009 2:49 PM:

" To "to fact",
hate to break it to ya, but the hospital is a business. The ceo's and administration no doubt believe that they are there to make money. Yes their business is to "care for patients" whether they actually are good at that business is certainly debatable. A fancy new piece of over-priced equipment is not going to give them a good reputation like they had hoped. They need to completely restructure their whole system if they want to accomplish anything. "




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to fact wrote on Jun 24, 2009 1:40 PM:

" To "fact"....Obtaining a new instrument like the Da Vinci System involves keeping up with the best patient care. that's what the hospital is for i thought. "




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Fact wrote on Jun 19, 2009 6:20 PM:

" Buying "stuff" will not improve the reputation of MMH. Insiders know poor morale, stagnant middle managers, and internal medical staff turbulance has to go before the situation improves. "




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to why wrote on Jun 19, 2009 9:12 AM:

" people acutally have had some complaints that are valid and not been addressed in the past....PAST.....i think they are on a better track now...stuff happens, and it's how it's resolved that makes the difference..sticking your head in the sand and telling people there wasn't a problem doesn't work and that's what happened in the past. we can hope they can listen to problems and criticism with an open mind now, instead of defensiveness like Why.
Purchasint this instrument is in the right directions. take care of patients... "




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Why wrote on Jun 17, 2009 7:46 PM:

" This is state of the art and we are lucky to have the technology come to little ole Montrose. With 4 million dollars going to charity every year, and only 400,00 dollars coming in from the county, I don't understand why some people want to bad mouth the hospital with nothing to back it up. It is my experience that if someone has been to another hospital to compare to ours, they LOVE our hospital, if someone has never been anywhere but Montrose, they will look for something to complain about...some people are always going to be ignorant. "




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Not Mike either wrote on Jun 13, 2009 12:06 AM:

" MMH hopes that this will stop business from leaving town. Whether that happens or not is debatable. This equipment will cost $500K per year when the maintenance contract is included. This means that, conservatively, 250 NEW cases (that would have left Montrose) will have to be performed just to break even. This is not very likely. Note that the story came from Dr. Peterson who will directly gain from the equipment. The claims are only claims. What isn't in doubt is that patients will benefit by its presence. "




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Not Mike wrote on Jun 12, 2009 4:54 PM:

" Wow Mike, where are you getting your information? I suspect you don't have information. So I'm not so sure you should be commenting on something you have no clue about. In terms of equipment, this is not a huge cost. "




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Mike wrote on Jun 12, 2009 1:16 PM:

" A piece of over-priced medical equipment paying for itself? Hardly. The cost of doing business with MMH has just gone up another notch or two. We will all pay through the nose. "




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thrilled wrote on Jun 12, 2009 12:32 PM:

" this is a great addtion to a hospital that provides outstanding care with a remarkable medical staff. congratulations on the decision and acquisition. "




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